The Senate Appropriations - Government Operations Division convened on February 21, 2025, to discuss key budgetary adjustments and funding allocations for various programs in North Dakota. The meeting, lasting from 3:31 PM to 4:05 PM, focused on several significant agenda items that will impact state operations and services.

The first item addressed was the removal of one full-time equivalent (FTE) position from the budget, which remains undesignated and will be at the discretion of the department. Following this, the committee reviewed adjustments to base level funding, which included a variety of ongoing funding changes. Notably, there were discussions about federal funding for maintaining building codes, IT increases, and adjustments related to the AmeriCorps program. The committee aimed to streamline ongoing funding to an even total of $1,000,000.

The meeting also highlighted the addition of one-time funding for temporary salaries, amounting to $153,000, which includes $53,000 for temporary staff and an office intern. Furthermore, the committee approved additional one-time funding for operating expenses and grants, with a focus on tourism marketing and development. A total of $7,000,000 was allocated for tourism marketing awareness, which includes $150,000 specifically for the North Dakota State magazine.

Significant funding was also earmarked for various grant programs, including $20,000,000 for tourism destination development grants and $10,000,000 for Beyond Visual Line of Sight UAS grants. The Office of Global Talent, previously known as the Office of Legal Immigration, will receive $1,000,000, split evenly between operating expenses and grants.

The committee discussed the importance of entrepreneurship grants, approving an increase of $759,000, which brings the total funding for this program to $1,500,000. Additionally, $5,000,000 was allocated for Regional Workforce Impact Program grants and $2,000,000 for Technical Skills Training grants.

The meeting concluded with a review of the bill's sections, detailing the breakdown of one-time funding and the authority granted to agencies regarding new and vacant FTE positions. The total appropriated from the Special Infrastructure Fund (SIF) was noted to be $88,000,000, with further discussions on comparisons to the governor's proposed budget.

Overall, the meeting underscored the committee's commitment to addressing funding needs across various sectors while ensuring efficient use of state resources. The next steps involve further examination of the bill and its implications for state operations.